I attended a seminar talking about the management and policy in science area. Too bad I don’t have management background to understand all the management and policy terms/thingy, I can barely understand what were they talking about. Otherwise I would have share it.

But the Q&A section was pretty fun, some of the audiences pointed out certain general issues that have long bothering us.

One of the Guru who involved in science area for over 20 years, restlessly pointed out that very often, same ideas which made Korea success, turn out to be different things when went through cabinet approval… perhaps due to shortsighted and lacking of science knowledges of those who holding powers and authorities. Perhaps concern of “pocket money” as well (it might not true, hehee).

Politics and result oriented mind can be devastating when come to science management. In Malaysia, general elections are held every five years. Science and technology are full with uncertainty and are not something predictable, it’s certainly not something which can be 100% answered in 5 years time. After discovered ways of obtained mouse embryos, it took another 20 years for western scientists to merely just discover the potential of stem cells!

Five years? That’s ridiculous! It’s only enough for mini science projects, perhaps another tax-payers-subsidize-space-travel-project, but not science.

Furthermore, Malaysia don’t have a solid science fundamental.

But politicians want positive results for next general election.

Attended project meeting with MOSTI servants before. After a good presentation by presenter, MOSTI servants only concern about 2 things: progress and financial reports.

Understanding their nature of job is to monitor science projects funding by them doesn’t make me feel better with the fact that they only concern if the projects can be accomplish on time, monies of the project are spending, and prefer/paying attention/happier with fancy, magical, and promising outcome despite the underlying fundamental problems.

Well… who don’t?

Even a naive master student would want to do a bombastic title, without understanding how far he/she can go.

Same thing goes to application of science fund. To increase the chances of getting funding, researchers often trying to make their application sound fancy and promising just for the sake of attracting panels’ eyes. This can be pretty upset if the particular research ground doesn’t have solid background, which might lead to project failure, and giving a negative impress where scientists can make a good lie when project defend is not done properly.

This kind of culture and environment is definitely discouraging fundamental science.

And while researchers and scientists in Malaysia are struggling with all these, cabinet is debating how many millions of tax payers’ monies they should burn in space.

Doing science in Malaysia can be pretty depressing, and passion killing most of the time.

Or maybe I just being bias. I don’t know.

Whatever it is, happy researching~